Ambitious £150m plans for 650 new homes at Wynyard Village between Stockton and Hartlepool (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Ambitious £150m plans for 650 new homes at Wynyard Village between Stockton and Hartlepool

4:42pm Thursday 28th February 2013 in News By Lucy Richardson

AN exclusive North-East 'village' is set to sprawl if £150m plans to build 650 new homes go ahead.

The brainchild of entrepreneur Sir John Hall, Wynyard Village situated between Stockton and Hartlepool now boasts about 800 luxury homes. 

This is the latest major multi-million scheme designed to expand the development to have been submitted recently.

Up to 780 new homes and a 220 property retirement village costing £100m are also earmarked at nearby Wynyard Park, alongside separate schemes for 600 and 168 properties which are all waiting approval.

Sir John, former owner of Newcastle United and creator of Gateshead’s Metro Centre bought the Wynyard Hall estate through Cameron Hall developments along with 5,000 acres from the Londonderry family in 1987.

Paul Mackings, Cameron Hall Developments Chief Executive, said the new application submitted to Stockon Borough Council on February 11 would be one of the largest schemes of its kind in the region.

“We are delighted to finalise the original sustainable vision for Wynyard Village laid down more than 20 years ago by Sir John Hall, “ he said.

So far 11 letters of objection have been sent to Stockton council  complaining about issues including the impact on wildlife and traffic congestion.

Commenting on the council website Nicola Blanshard said: “I invested in my home in this ‘village’ on the back of the initial plans. To tear these plans up and replace them with something that bears no resemblance is not acceptable.”

She added: “I believe this village was expected to be around 500 homes and now exceeds 800. To increase this further to 1,500 will mean it will lose its character and be dominated by high cost “exclusive” homes.

As well as transforming Wynyard Hall into a four-star hotel, Sir John built a golf course and in 2011 signed a deal with the governors of independent Red House school in Norton to locate to an £18m purpose-built campus on 22 acres.

Other proposals for the Wynyard site include a £300m hospital planned for 2017, which would involve the controversial closure of both Hartlepool and North Tees hospitals.